There are a large number of online slots offered at online casinos and the selection of suitable ones can be a daunting task for new players. At the outset it is important to state that there can be no single criterion for making the selection. Players will have to apply a number of factors and then take a considered call. This article explains the application of some of the more important criteria.

Today all slots games have underlying themes that are built upon through graphics, symbols and bonus games. The themes create a bond with the player's own interests and inclinations. Therefore it makes sense to wager at online slots with themes that the player can empathize with. Or to put it the other way a player should avoid slots games with themes that he is disinterested in. To give an example, many new slots were released on the occasion of the FIFA World Cup a few months ago. These slots depicted various aspects of football matches. Some had bonus games in which the players could choose the jerseys of his favorite football team. This would provide additional value to a football fan, but those not interested in or aware of the World Cup would really not care for such features. Fortunately there is a wide range of themes available so that every player will find something to his liking.

An important criterion that new players ask questions about relates to selection of slots on the basis of payouts. All slots have an average return of about 95% and therefore it is not practical to differentiate using this parameter. However some slots are more volatile in their payouts and some slots are considerably less so. More volatile slots will offer larger payouts but less frequently. These slots are suitable for players who do not mind consuming their bankroll but are not interested in small winnings. Less volatile slots will pay out more frequently but the winnings will necessarily be on the lower side. These slots are suitable for those players who want to end the session with their bankrolls preserved. The question that arises is how one recognizes more volatile slots from less volatile ones. The more volatile slots will have a few symbols in the payout table with large payouts and the other symbols with small payouts. In the less volatile slots the payouts will tend to be grouped around a central value.

Perhaps the most important criterion in the selection of online slots is the features offered. All slots offer wild symbols, scatter symbols and free spins. But in some slots games these features may offer added value. For example in some slots the wild symbol expands to occupy the full reel. Recently there have been slot games in which the free spins come with a compensatory payout. If the player fails to win a specified amount in the free spins he is given compensation. However the most interesting feature to look for is the bonus game on the second screen. This is amenable to much more differentiation than the other features and hence become a practical criterion for selecting slots. Some of the more interesting bonus games are interactive beyond just clicking on images. Some of them could even involve a degree of skill. The details of the features are usually given along with the payout table in the games rules and this is a must read before selecting the slot game.